A school assistant at Notley Green Primary School has died while taking part in a marathon event in Malta,just as he was approaching the finishing line.

Mr Freeman, 55, had joked with his wife moments earlier about being involved in the event again next year. Mike Freeman collapsed less than a mile from the end of the run, according to Maltese newspaper reports.

Paying tribute on Facebook, his wife Nicola told of her devastation and said Mr Freeman, a member of a running club in Braintree, had a passion for running.

Writing on the Facebook page of Michelle’s Running Group, she said: “He loved running and he loved you all. One of our last words were about running up to the finish and how lovely it would be to see you all there. He joked ‘Next year eh!’ Devastated.”

Michelle Caulfield, leader of the group, said their usual running sessions would go ahead to allow people to come together to remember him, and many members suggested making donations to charity in Mr Freeman’s memory.

Media reports in Malta said a doctor had given Mr Freeman, the all-clear to participate in the race after he had complained of chest pain two weeks ago.

Parents of pupils at Notley Green Primary School in Braintree, where Mr Freeman was a member of staff, said he would be sadly missed.

One wrote: “My boys have often spoken of Mr Freeman and commented how much they liked him. He will be missed. Sending my condolences to his family.”

Another said: “Terrible news, my daughter speaks of Mr Freeman often and I know that she and all the children at Notley Green will miss him terribly.”

Mr Freeman was a member of the Midday Team at the school which is involved with the lunches and playtime supervision.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with the family of a British man who died in Malta on February 28.